Waterkeyn, J. (2005). Decreasing communicable diseases through improved hygiene in Community Health Clubs. Kampala. 31st WEDC Conference.
Abstract: It is clear that the A.H.E.A.D Methodology using structured participation through community health clubs can increase health knowledge within the community, and does impact on hygiene behaviour change. Further in areas where there is a dense coverage of Community Health Clubs and where the training has been running for more than four years, with roll-on sessions, that eventually include most of the households, there is a highly significant drop in common preventable diseases such as diarrhoea, bilharzia, skin and eye diseases, and may also help prevent acute respiratory infections. It would seem that although malaria is still increasing in the project areas, as it is across Zimbabwe, it is at a lesser pace in areas where health clubs practice some preventive measures. The key factor seems to be the intensity and the length of health promotion to ensure that a critical mass of people in the area have adopted the improved behaviour patterns and that the follow up continues for at least four years to ensure sustainable improvement in family health. This can be easily achieved using the AHEAD methodology and employing community health clubs as the vehicle for development.
For full article in pdf, click here: Decreasing Communicable Diseases Through Improved Hygiene in Community Health ClubsFor a copy of the presentation given at the WEDC Conference in pdf, click here: Decreasing Communicable Diseases through Improved Hygiene in Community Health Clubs: Presentation at 31st WEDC Conference, Kampala